Wrench



May 24, 1949. cApps 2,471,194

' WRENCH Filed Oct. 30, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor .dlaazz Fla bps By m Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in a special tool, broadly classifiable as a ratchet wrench, but also adapted to serve as a tool holder in that it may be employed to accommodate detachable sockets for engaging work parts, or other tools such as are applicable thereto.

More particularly, the invention has reference to a ratchet means Wrench in which the ratchet is actuated by remote control from ooacting squeeze-type levers imparting movement to longitudinal thrust means interposed between said levers and ratchet means.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure which is regarded as an improvement upon prior patented and marketed wrenches, the chosen embodiment being comparatively simple, easy to manipulate, convenient to handle, capable of many uses, and such in construction that it is comparatively inexpensive to'both manufacturer 1 and user.

It is known that most ratchet wrenches now employed require bodily movement of the handle back and forth in a horizontal or other plane.

The present invention overcomes this by using pliers-type handles which are simply squeezed together in order to actuate a reciprocatory thrust member, the latter in turn operating pawl and ratchet means.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts, throughout the same:

Figure l is a plan or elevational view of a ratchet wrench constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational View of the same.

Figure 3 is a view with the removable cover plate detached to expose the novel parts mounted for operation in body beneath said cover plate.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a cross section On the plane of the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a reciprocatory P thrust bar.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be seen that the main part body 1 (see Fig. 3) is of elongated form and generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape, as seen in Figure 5. The outer end of said body is fashioned to accommodate the journaling and retention means 8 of a ratchet wheel 9 which, as seen in Figure 4, is provided with axial extensions Ill which serve as socket and tool adapters, these having spring-pressed retaining balls ll. Mounted in a suitable depression in the body 1 adjacent the ratchet wheel is a common-type spring-pressed pawl, that is, a pawl I2 pressed against the teeth on the ratchet wheel by a spring l3 (Figure 3). To the right of this, as seen also in Figure 3, is a pocket-like recess M to accommodate the ratchet-actuating thrust finger 15. The latter is pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the reciprocatory thrust rod or bar I6, the latter sliding in a diagonal groove I! or slideway provided in the base of the body, as shown. The thrust finger I5 is hingedly mounted on the bar l6 and held in place by suitable spring clips It A coiled spring [9 is interposed between the finger l5 and bar I6 to press said finger into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The thrust or push rod 16 is provided with a lateral abutment 20 riding in a pocket 2| provided therefor, said pocket being provided with a return spring 22 engaging the abutment. The rounded end 23 of the push rod serves as an accommodating cam to coact with the self-adapting auxiliary thrust element 24 also located in the groove H. Element 24 is slightly tapered or of wedge-shaped form and its smallest end is rounded and seated in an accommodation notch 25 provided in the head 26 of the lever 21. This lever 27 coacts with a fixed lever 28 and said lever 21 is pivoted in overlapping relation, as at 29, in the cavity 30. The cover plate, which assembles and conceals stated parts is indicated at 3| and is of a shape corresponding to the main body I and is secured in place by appropriate fastenings 32.

In operation, it is evident that by squeezing the handles or levers 21 and 28 together, the former upon the pivot connection 29, the portion 26 engages the auxiliary thrust element 24 and presses same against the rounded end 23 of the main thrust or push bar I6. The bar l6 moves outwardly against the tension of the spring 22 and exerts actuating pressure against the pivoted thrust finger IS on the outer end of said rod.

This action engages finger l5 with the ratchet teeth and the ratchet wheel is thus turned. The step-by-step movement of the ratchet wheel and accompanying tool-holding members I0 is maintained by the spring-pressed pawl l2. It is obvious that by bodily turning the tool over from 3 the position seen in Figure 3 to an upside-down position, the rotation of the ratchet is reversed.

It is believed that the construction and assembling of the various parts and the procedures of using the tool, as a unit, will be clear to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding. and. impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure-ismadew from the invention as claimed.

I claim: 1. A ratchet wrench of the class described comprising an elongated body of general rectangular cross-sectional form provided in one flat face. with a'diagonal groove opening through said face, said groove constituting a slideway, a-thrust rod, of. a length less than and mounted for reciprocation in said-slideway and disposed flush withsaid one face, said thrust rod being provided onone'side intermediate its ends with a lateral-abutment,. and saidbody having a recessed pocket-iniwhichzsaid abutment is situated and slidably operable, a returnspring confined insaidpocket. engaging said abutment, toothed ratchet means at theeouter endof said body, a pawl mountedon. said body and: cooperable with the teeth of said. ratchet means, a pivoted thrust finger on the. outer end of said thrust rod, said finger being located.- in

said: groove and being engageable with said. teeth, together with a; singlecover plate fitted against the grooved face of said body and closing and shielding; said groove, thrust rod, thrust. finger,

abutment, return spring, and alsocoacting. with and assisting in holding said ratchet means in place, and handle. means at the inner end of said body.

2. A ratchet wrench of. the class described comprising an elongatedbody'or general. rectangular cross-sectional form provided in one fiat face with a diagonal groove opening through said face; said groove constituting a-slidewamathrust rod of a; length less than and mounted forreciprocation in said slideway and disposed flush with said one face, said. thrust 130d? being provided on one side, intermediate its ends, with a. lateral abutment, and said body having a recessed pocket in which said abutment is situated and slidably operable, a return spring confined in saidpocket 55,

engaging said abutment, ratchet means. at. the outer end of said body, a pawl mounted on said body and cooperable with the ratchet teeth, a pivoted thrust finger on the outer end. of said thrust rod, said finger being located-in saidgroove and being engageable with said ratchet teeth, a single plate fitted against the grooved face of said body and closing and shielding said groove, thrust rod, thrust finger, abutment, return spring, and also coacting with and assisting in holding said ratchet means in place, a fixed lever mounted on the inner end of said body and laterally and longitudinally bowed and in a plane with one face of the body, a second longitudinally bowed lever pivotally "mounted on; the inner endportion of said. first' named lever,;-and an. auxiliary, independent thrust element interposed between the pivoted movable end of said pivoted lever and the adjacent shiftable end of said reciprocating rod.

3. A ratchet wrench of the class described comprising arr elongated body provided in one face with a groove opening through said face, said groove constituting a slideway, a reciprocable thrust rod of a length less than and mounted for reciprocation in said slideway and disposed flush.with said. one. face. said. thrust. rod. being .providedswith a.lateral abutmentand saidbody having arecessedpooket in. which said. abutment is. slidably: operable,.a return spring confined. in saidi;pocket.- engaging. said, abutment, a toothed ratchetiwheel; mounted for rotation, at the outer end of' said body, a pawl mounted. on. said body and, cooperable withthe. teeth. onsaid ratchet wheel; a. pivoted. thrust. finger. on the outer end orsaid' thrust rod.. said finger being, located in said groove. .andlbeingengageable withsaid. ratchet teeth, a. cover.zplate;fitte.ds against. th rooved face of said body and enclosing and shieldin said. groove... thrustrod; thrust. finger... abutment,

. return. spring; and also ,coacting, with. and assisting in holding; saidratcbet. meansin. place, .a fixed lever mollntedaorr. theinner end of: said -body,. a seCQI'Ld'. longitudinally bowed lever pivotally mounted ontheiinner end portion. of. said. firstnamedi. lever, and an. auxiliary thrust. element interposed between the pivoted movable end. of saidpivlotedleven and the, adjacent. shiftable end of, said'thrustrod;

ALQNZQV. CAPPS.

" REFERENCES CITED The: following: ret'erences are-of record inthe file ortthis: patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

